Blueberry plant named &#39;FC12-205&#39;

ABSTRACT

The new blueberry plant variety ‘FC12-205’ is provided. ‘FC12-205’ is a commercial variety intended for the fresh fruit market. The variety is produced from a cross of ‘ZF06-103’ (female parent, unpatented) and ‘ZF06-264’ (male parent, unpatented), which can be distinguished by its outstanding features, including late-season ripening, large, uniform fruit size and light blue appearance, yellow-green stem color, and flowers with strong floral scent.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent ApplicationNo. 62/995,600, filed on Feb. 6, 2020, which is incorporated herein byreference in its entirety for all purposes.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY-SPONSORED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT None.

Latin name of the genus and species: Family—Ericaceae. Genus—Vaccinium.Species—corymbosum.

Variety denomination: The new blueberry plant claimed is of the varietydenominated ‘FC12-205’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the discovery of a new and distinctcultivar of northern highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L.) plant,referred to as ‘FC12-205’, as herein described and illustrated. The newblueberry plant variety ‘FC12-205’ is a commercial variety intended forthe fresh fruit market. The variety has high plant vigor, upright growthhabit, ripens late-season, and produces large, uniform size fruit.‘FC12-205’ was selected for its above average fruit quality compared toother late-season varieties. The fruit has excellent wax retentionresulting in a light blue color, and a lower percentage of shriveled andcracked fruit compared to other varieties in the same harvest window.

‘FC12-205’ differs from the female parent in that is has a larger, moreuniform, fruit size than its female parent ‘ZF06-103’. ‘FC12-205’differs from the male parent in that it has larger and firmer fruit than‘ZF06-264’.

Pedigree and History: The new blueberry plant originated from a cross of‘ZF06-103’ (female parent, unpatented) and ‘ZF06-264’ (male parent,unpatented) made in Lowell, Oreg., USA in 2008.

The new blueberry variety ‘FC12-205’ was initially crossed in 2008 inLowell, Oreg., USA and planted in 2009 in a seedling plot.

‘FC12-205’ was selected because of its high yield potential, lateharvest season, resistance to pre-harvest fruit shrivel and cracking,uniform large fruit size, attractive fruit appearance, and extended coldstorage performance.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new blueberry plant variety ‘FC12-205’ has not been observed underall possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhatwith variations in environment and cultural practices such astemperature and light intensity without, however, any variance ingenotype.

‘FC12-205’ is distinguished by its late ripening season, large uniformfruit size and light blue appearance, bright yellow-green stem color,and pungent smell of the flowers. The following characteristics of thenew cultivar have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be theunique characteristics of the new blueberry plant variety ‘FC12-205’:

1) Late-season ripening

2) Large, uniform fruit size and light blue appearance

3) Yellow-green stem color

4) Flowers with strong floral scent

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying photographic illustration shows typical specimens infull color of the foliage and fruit of the new variety ‘FC12-205.’ Thecolors are as nearly true as is reasonably possible in a colorrepresentation of this type.

FIG. 1 is a photograph of the new variety ‘FC12-205’, demonstrating theplant's leaves and growth habit in the fall. The plants were grown inLowell, Oreg. and photographed on Nov. 16, 2018.

FIG. 2 is a photograph of the fruit cluster of the new variety‘FC12-205’ grown in Lowell, Oreg. and photographed on Aug. 1, 2017.

FIG. 3 is a photograph of the flowers of the new variety ‘FC12-205’grown in Lowell, Oreg. and photographed on May 4, 2017.

FIG. 4 is a photograph of the spring foliage of the new variety‘FC12-205’ grown in Lowell, Oreg. and photographed on May 30, 2017.

FIG. 5 is a photograph of early buds on the new variety ‘FC12-205’ grownin Lowell, Oreg. and photographed on Mar. 16, 2017.

FIG. 6 is a photograph of one-year old canes on the new variety‘FC12-205’ grown in Lowell, Oreg. and photographed on Apr. 18, 2018.

The colors in the photographs are as close as possible with thephotographic and printing technology utilized. The color values cited inthe detailed botanical description accurately describe the colors of thenew blueberry.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following detailed description sets forth the distinctivecharacteristics of ‘FC12-205’. The data which defines thesecharacteristics was collected from asexual reproductions of the originalselection. Dimensions, sizes, colors, and other characteristics areapproximations and averages set forth as accurately as possible. Theplant history was taken on plants approximately 6 years of age, and thedescriptions relate to plants grown in the field located at 39252Jasper-Lowell Road, Lowell, Oreg., USA. Descriptions of fruitcharacteristics were made on fruit grown at the field described above.Color designations are from “The Pantone Book of Color” (by LeatriceEiseman and Lawrence Herbery, Harry N. Abrams, Inc., Publishers, NewYork 1990). Where the Pantone color designations differ from the colorsof the photographs, the Pantone colors are accurate.

-   Classification:    -   -   a. Family.—Ericaceae.        -   b. Genus.—Vaccinium.        -   c. Species.—corymbosum.        -   d. Common name.—Northern Highbush Blueberry.-   Parentage: Female Parent—‘ZF06-103’ (unpatented). Male    Parent—‘ZF06-264’ (unpatented).-   Market class: Commercial production of fresh fruit, but suitable for    process market.

PLANT

-   General:    -   -   a. Parentage.—Female Parent — ‘ZF06-103’ (unpatented). Male            Parent — ‘ZF06-264’ (unpatented).        -   b. Plant height.—Average 162.56 cm.        -   c. Plant width.—Average 203.20 cm.        -   d. Growth habit.—Upright.        -   e. Growth.—High.        -   f. Productivity.—High.        -   g. Cold hardiness.—Good. In Central and Northwest            Washington, there has been no        -   h. Chilling requirement.—Estimated minimum of 800-1000.        -   i. Leafing.—Good.        -   j. Twigginess.—Moderately twiggy.        -   k. Resistance/susceptibility to root rot (Phytopthora            cinnamomii.)—Not overly susceptible.        -   l. Resistance/susceptibility to stem blight (Botryosphaeria            . sp.)—Not overly susceptible.        -   m. Resistance/susceptibility to phomopsis twig blight            (Phomopsis vaccinii.)—Not overly susceptible.        -   n. Resistance/susceptibility to botrytis (Botrytis            cinerea.)—Not overly susceptible.        -   o. Resistance/susceptibility to leaf spot (Septoria .            spp.)—Not overly susceptible.        -   p. Resistance/susceptibility to leaf rust (Naohidemyces            vaccinii.)—Not overly susceptible.        -   q. Resistance/susceptibility to bud mites (Acalatus            vaccinii.)—Not overly susceptible.

STEM

-   General:    -   -   a. Suckering tendency—Low.        -   b. Mature cane color.—Pantone color ‘Beaver fur’ 17-1417.        -   c. Mature cane length.—152.4 cm.        -   d. Mature cane width.—Average 15.63 mm.        -   e. Bark texture.—Rough.        -   f. Fall color on new shoots.—Pantone color ‘Aurora Red’            18-550.        -   g. Surface texture of new wood.—Smooth.        -   h. Internode length on strong, new shoots.—19.62 mm.        -   i. Average number of buds per fruiting lateral.—Average 6.

FOLIAGE

-   General:    -   -   a. Time of beginning of leaf bud burst.—In Lowell, Oreg.,            mid-April.        -   b. Leaf color (top side.)—Pantone color ‘Black Forest’            19-0315.        -   c. Leaf color (under side.)—Pantone color ‘Reseda’ 15-6414.        -   d. Leaf arrangement.—Alternate and Spirally Arranged.        -   e. Leaf shape.—Elliptic.        -   f. Leaf margins.—Entire.        -   g. Undulation of margin.—Entire.        -   h. Leaf venation.—Anastomosing.        -   i. Leaf apices.—Acute to attenuate.        -   j. Leaf bases.—Obtuse.        -   k. Leaf length.—Average 60.78 mm.        -   l. Leaf width.—Average 32.79 mm.        -   m. Leaf length/width ratio.—1.85.        -   n. Leaf nectarines.—Absent.        -   o. Pubescence of upper side.—Absent.        -   p. Pubescence of lower side.—Absent.        -   q. Cross sectional profile.—Flat.        -   r. Longitudinal profile.—Plane.        -   s. Attitude.—Porrect.-   Petioles:    -   -   a. Length.—3.887 mm.        -   b. Width.—1.712 mm.        -   c. Color.—Pantone color ‘Green Banana’ 14-0434.        -   d. Petiole surface texture.—Smooth.

FLOWERS

-   General:    -   -   a. Time of beginning of flowering.—Approximately mid to late            April in Lowell, Oreg.        -   b. Time of 50% anthesis.—Approximately early May in Lowell,            Oreg.        -   c. Flower shape.—Urceolate.        -   d. Flower bud density.—Medium.        -   e. Flower fragrance.—Pungent, sweet, floral.        -   f. Immature flower color.—Pantone color ‘Snow White’            11-0602.        -   g. Self-compatibility.—Very good, 93% of self-pollinated            flowers produced fruit.-   Corolla:    -   -   a. Color.—Pantone color ‘Snow White’ 11-0602.        -   b. Length.—8.214 mm.        -   c. Width.—8.228 mm.        -   d. Aperture width.—3.868 mm.        -   e. Anthocyanin coloration of corolla.—Weak to absent.        -   f. Corolla ridges.—Present.        -   g. Protrusion of stigma.—0.114 mm below the corolla.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   a. Length.—30.436 mm.        -   b. Diameter.—32.78 mm.        -   c. Length of peduncle.—20.954 mm.        -   d. Surface texture of peduncle.—Puberulent.        -   e. Color of peduncle.—Pantone color ‘Holly Berry’ 17-1633.        -   f. Length of pedicel.—8.16 mm.        -   g. Surface texture of pedicel.—Puberulent.        -   h. Color of pedicel.—Pantone color ‘Holly Berry’ 17-1633.        -   i. Number of flowers per cluster.—10.20.        -   j. Flower cluster density.—Large size and medium-tight.-   Calyx (with sepals):    -   -   a. Diameter.—8.542 mm.        -   b. Color (sepals.)—Pantone color ‘Reed’ 13-0215.-   Stamen:    -   -   a. Length.—6.698 mm.        -   b. Number per flower.—11 stamen per flower.        -   c. Filament color.—Pantone color ‘Green Glow’ 13-0442.-   Pistil:    -   -   a. Length.—10.22 mm.        -   b. Ovary color (exterior.)—Pantone color ‘Piquant Green’            17-0235.        -   c. Style length.—8.452 mm.-   Anther:    -   -   a. Length.—4.47 mm.        -   b. Number.—2 per filament.        -   c. Color.—Pantone color ‘Topaz’ 16-1150.-   Pollen:    -   -   a. Abundance.—Moderate.        -   b. Color.—Pantone color ‘Cornhusk’ 12-0817.

FRUIT

-   General:    -   -   a. Time of fruit ripening.—Late. The first harvest begins            after Cargo and before Last Call, typically the first week            of August in Lowell, Oreg.        -   b. Time of 50% maturity.—Approximately the beginning of            August in Lowell, Oreg.        -   c. Fruit development period.—Averaging 85 days in Lowell,            Oreg.        -   d. Mean harvest date.—Averaging August 3^(rd).        -   e. Mean date last pick.—Averaging August 31^(st).        -   f. Cluster density.—Medium.        -   g. Berries per cluster.—8.6 berries per cluster.        -   h. Unripe fruit color.—Pantone color ‘Herbal Garden’            15-0336.        -   i. Ripe Berry color.—Pantone color ‘Purple Cloud’ 16-3919.        -   j. Berry skin color after polishing.—Pantone Color ‘Dark            Navy’ 19-4013.        -   k. Berry surface wax abundance.—High.        -   l. Berry flesh color.—Pantone color ‘Lilly Green’ 13-0317.        -   m. Berry weight.—Average 2.510 g.        -   n. Berry height from calyx to scar.—11.778 mm.        -   o. Berry diameter.—18.100 mm.        -   p. Calyx aperture.—Average 7.817 mm.        -   q. Calyx depth.—Average 1.105 mm.        -   r. Pedicel length.—Average 8.932 mm.        -   s. Pedicel surface texture.—Smooth.        -   t. Berry detachment force.—Medium-hard.        -   u. Berry shape.—Oblate.        -   v. Fruit stem scar.—1.684 mm.        -   w. Sweetness when ripe.—Medium.        -   x. Firmness when ripe.—Firm.        -   y. Acidity when ripe.—Medium.        -   z. Storage quality.—Good.

SEED

-   General:    -   -   a. Seed abundance in fruit.—Average.        -   b. Seed color.—Pantone color ‘Brown Sugar’ 17-1134.        -   c. Seed dry weight.—0.267 mg. per seed.        -   d. Seed length.—Average 1.5 mm.

COMPARISON BETWEEN PARENTAL AND COMMERCIAL CULTIVARS

Denomina- Characteristic State of State of expression tion of forcompari- expression of of candidate variety similar variety son similarvariety ‘FC12-205’ Liberty Vigor Low High Legacy Bloom retention MediumHigh Aurora Season Very Late Late Aurora Acidity High Medium ZF06-264Fruit Size Medium Large ZF06-103 Growth habit Semi-sprawl Upright

1. A new and distinct variety of blueberry plant named ‘FC12-205’,substantially as illustrated and described herein.